JoBeth Williams

Working steadily for decades in a wide variety of mediums, JoBeth Williams successfully transitioned from effervescent leading lady to mature actress with a lengthy résumé of consistentl...
Read More...

The cast of cult Lawrence Kasdan movie The Big Chill is set for a 30th anniversary reunion at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada in September (13). Glenn Close, Tom Berenger, JoBeth Williams and Kasdan himself have been confirmed for the get together, where they will chat about making the movie, which is ironically about a reunion that takes place following a death.
The movie premiered at the Toronto Film Festival's opening night in 1983, and the reunion will open this year's (13) event.

The stuntmen and women who brought The Amazing Spider-Man, The Bourne Legacy and The Dark Knight Rises to life on the big screen are up for the Outstanding Action Performances by Film and Television Stunt Ensembles honour at the upcoming Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The tough guys and girls will battle it out for the prize alongside the stunt casts of Skyfall and Les Miserables.
The award will be announced by actors JoBeth Williams and Scott Bakula on the red carpet before the SAG Awards ceremony starts on 27 January (13).
Up for the TV stunt prize are the ensemble teams behind The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy.

Guest starred on four episodes of Showtime's serial-killer drama "Dexter"

Acted in the controversial ABC drama "The Day After"

Played regular role of Brandy on "Guiding Light" (CBS)

Reprised role in "Poltergeist II: The Other Side"

Reportedly turned down the lead role on the CBS sitcom "Murphy Brown," which Diane English created with her in mind

Played leading role in the supernatural thriller "Poltergeist"

Played Reve Walsh, the mother of a child who was abducted, in the NBC drama "Adam"; earned Emmy nomination

Starred in TV series "John Grisham's 'The Client'"

Film acting debut in small role in "Kramer vs. Kramer"

Summary

Working steadily for decades in a wide variety of mediums, JoBeth Williams successfully transitioned from effervescent leading lady to mature actress with a lengthy résumé of consistently strong performances. Possibly best remembered for her breakout portrayal of a terrified suburban housewife in the supernatural horror film "Poltergeist" (1982), Williams played Diane Freeling with a conviction and authenticity that kept audiences on the edge of their seats. On the heels of that success was the ensemble drama "The Big Chill" (1983), in which Williams' character, unhappy with her current marriage, considers rekindling a relationship with her old flame during a weekend reunion with college friends. Considered a classic by a generation, the film marked the directorial debut of writer Lawrence Kasdan, and allowed Williams to act alongside some of the brightest stars in film at that time. Williams made her mark on television, with roles in TV-movies like the Cold-War cautionary tale "The Day After" (1983), and in "Adam" (NBC, 1983), in which she portrayed the anguished mother of a missing child. She also impressed with her initial outing as a director with "On Hope" (Showtime, 1994), which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Film. Following her appearance with Nick Nolte in Arthur Hiller's black comedy, "Teachers" (1984), there were fewer headlining roles in feature projects, and more work on television series such as "Dexter" (Showtime, 2006- ). Williams soon settled into a steady career pattern, frequently playing mother figures in smaller films like "In the Land of Women" (2007), making Williams one of the few women of a certain age who successfully segued into a respected character actress after enjoying a high-profile leading lady career in her prime.

met in 1970; married in 1982; Born c. 1945; producer-director of the TV sitcom hit "Home Improvement"; previously married

Nick Pasquin

Son

born in 1990; adopted; adoptive father John Pasquin

Will Pasquin

Son

born in 1987; adopted; adoptive father John Pasquin

Sarah Pasquin

Step-Daughter

born c. 1967; Pasquin's daughter from his first marriage

Roger Williams

Father

died in 1978

Frances Williams

Mother

Education

Name

Brown University

Notes

Williams publicly discussed her attempts to become pregnant. After four miscarriages, she and her husband decided to adopt.

"I think women are particularly well-equipped. They tend to be more aware of people's feelings, what's going on around them...Particularly as a mother – I run a household, I raise two children, I want to get these guys to do what I need them to do in a way where they'll be happy. And that's a tremendous amount of directing skill." – Williams on her directorial debut, to the Los Angeles Times Calendar, Sept. 26, 1995